Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/703077
I DA U N I V E R S A L J u l y -Au g u s t 2 0 1 6 11 As Stoughton met with customers, attended trade shows, and became more active in construction organizations such as AEM, NAPA, IDA, and ARRA, he expanded BLS to meet even more customer needs."One of my salesmen was on the phone with a customer who said they wanted track pads and the nuts and bolts to assemble the pads onto the chain. I was so naïve at the time that I thought everyone had their own hardware salesman. I quickly learned that people prefer one-stop shopping. We sell a whole lot of nuts and bolts now and found out that people also need sprockets, rollers, idlers and chains. We became known as the undercarriage parts specialists." Along with Tufpads, BLS also provides rubber track pads (HQRPADS ) in a variety of sizes and styles. In 2000 BLS became the a ermarket supplier for Bridgestone continuous rubber tracks and began supplying Artliner-BLS bolt-on and clip-on rubber track pads. Due to customer demand, in 2003 BLS was the fi rst to develop and make a polyurethane bolt-on track pad that attaches to the steel triple grouser (BLS Poly Bolt-On Tufpads). ese pads were specifi cally designed for asphalt milling machines and pavers and are now standard on all new Roadtec milling machines. In 2007, BLS intro- duced Tufpads Blues polyure- thane track pads, which last 15-30% longer than standard polyurethane. BLS supplies track pads to OEMs, and sells through dealers and directly from its headquarters in Bensenville, Ill. 2016 is a big year for Stoughton and BLS. In October, the company will celebrate its 30th anniversary. Also, Barry will be handing over the reins to his son, Matt, who grew up in the family business, stuffi ng envelopes and counting track pads for his dad. Upon gradu- ating from Bradley University in 2007, Matt began working full time for BLS as purchasing manager. He worked his way up to general manager in 2011 and then was promoted to vice president in 2014. In April, Matt became owner and president of BLS Enterprises. Barry will continue working at the company, but his new role will give him and wife Anne the fl exibility to travel when they'd like to. "I had no idea 30 years ago that I would have anything to do with track pads, paving equipment, milling machines, or sales," Barry says. "I was just trying to solve people's problems." ● ads to OEMs, and sells h dealers and directly s headquarters in nville, Ill. 16 is a big year ughton and BLS. In er, the company will te its 30th rsary. arry will ding over ns to , Matt, ew up family ss, g envelopes unting track r his dad. gradu- rom y sity 7, egan ng full r BLS chasing er. He worked y up to general er in 2011 and then omoted to vice ent in 2014. In Matt became and president of nterprises. Barry ntinue working at mpany, but his new ll give him and wife he fl exibility to travel hey'd like to. had no idea 30 years ago would have anything with track pads, paving ment, milling machines, s," Barry says. "I was ying to solve people's ms." ●